The Xoe Meyers Trilogy (Xoe Meyers Young Adult Fantasy/Horror Series) (50 page)

Abel smiled and put his hand on Darla's. “Darla is my wife,” he announced.

“No shit?” I asked loudly, genuinely surprised. “Doesn't that make her like, co-leader?”

Darla chuckled. “Not exactly Xoe. Werewolf hierarchy is extremely chauvinistic.”

“What, is it like a law?” I asked them, feeling grumpy at the idea. Stupid werewolf politics.

Abel shook his head. “Not a law really. Our traditions spring from pragmatism. We fight to become leaders. Men win more fights. Of course, not all men are bigger and stronger than women, but if you take a group of people, the one biggest and strongest person is most likely a man.

“That's why you don't see many female leaders. Female alphas within a pack sure, but for there to be a female pack leader, she would have to be able to physically take on every man in the pack. It happens of course, but just not that often.”

I wrinkled my eyebrows in distaste. “Sounds stupid.”

Darla laughed. “Tell me about it. What they don't get is that most of us are smart enough to stand back and let the men take the beatings for us. I could kick this man's ass any day of the week,” she said, gesturing with a thumb at Abel.

Abel simply smiled and gave Darla's hand a squeeze in return. It was weird seeing him in this element. All happy and . . . domesticated.

“We're getting off topic,” Abel announced. “On to the matter of your protection. I assume you've told your father Alexondra?”

“For the last time, it's Xoe, and yes I told him,” I answered.

Abel steepled his fingers in front of his face with his elbows on the table. “And what did he think?”

I shrugged. “He's not sure of your motives, but he thinks it could be beneficial.”

Abel smiled. “Alexondre, ever the pragmatist.”

It still weirds me out to hear people say my dad's name. Not only do we look freaskishly alike, we also have almost the same name. My mom really dropped the ball on that decision.

Abel seemed to be thinking for a few minutes, then finally spoke. “We'll need to make an official announcement, but until then, my protection of you is no secret. If anyone threatens you in any way, you let them know exactly what they're dealing with, as well as alerting me immediately. I'd rather not get jumped unawares by a group of vampires.”

I hadn't really thought of things like that. Abel was really sticking his neck out for me. For some reason though, it didn't make me feel any more trusting. In fact, it just made me more suspicious.

“Also, you need to wear this,” he added handing me a bracelet of braided blue leather cord. The braids were extremely intricate, with the individual cords dyed different shades of blue and blue-green.

“Um, no thanks,” I said, as I tried to hand the bracelet back to him.

Darla held up her wrist to show me the same blue bracelet. “Just wear it,” she ordered. “It won't hurt anything but your pride, and the other wolves will know what it is. You won't have to go out of your way to tell them you're under Abel's protection.”

I took the bracelet reluctantly, but couldn't tie it around my wrist one handed, so Darla reached over the table to help me. Her fingers were long and nimble, and the bracelet was tied in a complicated looking knot in seconds.

I stared at the knot. “Well now I'll never be able to get it off.”

Darla smirked. “That's the point. You need to keep wearing it after you get home. You're representing the coalition in your area now. Any traveling wolves will make note of your standing.”

“They're not going to be looking to me for leadership or anything right?” I asked, needing reassurance.

“They will not.” Abel answered. “They may however, give you a message if they wish to relay something to me.”

“And they don't have phones?” I asked sarcastically.

Abel laughed abruptly. “We're not barbarians Alexondra. They would simply trust someone under my protection to give me a message, more than they would my secretary.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You have a secretary?”

Abel nodded, like it wasn't a big deal. “I am a very busy man Alexondra. I don't have time to take phone calls from every wolf that gets mad at someone in their pack. Serious calls are filtered through to me. I don't concern myself with the others.”

“Well since you don't answer your calls, wouldn't it kind of defeat the purpose if I just had to leave their message with a secretary regardless?” I asked.

“You don't understand Xoe,” Darla answered. “You being under Abel's protection makes you part of the, well I guess you could call it the inner circle, though that sounds a little dramatic for my taste.”

“Okay,” I went on, “so what you're trying to say, is that I can bypass the secretary?”

“In so many words, yes,” Abel responded. “You will be able to speak directly to me. If you feel there is a threat to you and yours, you must notify me right away.”

This was getting complicated. There were probably a million more questions I should have asked, but I was hungry, and I didn't feel like chatting anymore.

I sighed loudly. “Anything else? Is this where you teach me the super secret handshake?”

“We'll teach you the handshake later. First there is the matter of the tattoo . . . ” Abel began.

I jumped up out of my chair, knocking it to the ground. “No way!” I shouted, crossing and uncrossing my arms like an umpire. “There is
no
way you are branding me!”

Abel and Darla erupted into laughter, and I realized that they were screwing with me.

“Sorry,” Abel responded, laughter straining his voice. “I just couldn't resist.”

I crossed my arms across my chest grumpily. “Are we done now?”

Abel nodded with tears streaming down his face. That's me, Xoe Meyers, everyone's favorite source of amusement.

I
walked out of the conference room with a sour expression on my face. Chase and Max were sitting on a couch against the wall with a bodyguard standing on either side of them. I noticed the other bodyguard standing by the lobby's front door, watching everyone like a hawk.

I stomped over to the couch. “Ready?”

“I take it the meeting didn't go well?” Chase asked.

“It was fine,” was my reply before turning to walk towards the lobby door.

Max and Chase got up to follow me, and the bodyguards closed in to flank us like a black cloud. It was unnerving as hell, but I grudgingly admitted to myself that it did make me feel safer. Though the main source of comfort was knowing that Jason and the others had their own pack of bodyguards with them in the room.

As we continued out the door, I pulled the SUV keys out of my bag. We walked across the lawn, then all piled into the vehicle silently. I was officially glad for the vehicle, since it fit the three of us, and the three bodyguards. Though now that I was out of the inn, I had no idea where I intended to go.

I decided we’d just drive down the main drag and look for a place to eat. I found one pretty quick, a brick-oven pizza place with a sign that said they sold burgers and stuff too. Something for everyone.

I pulled in and parked. “This okay?” I asked the other passengers, gesturing at the restaurant.

“Well you did already park,” Max said sarcastically.

I grimaced. “Sorry, it’s been a long day.”

“Ok,” Max said simply, seeing my logic and forgiving me. If only all arguments could be so simple.

We got out of the SUV and walked into the restaurant. We were seated quickly in a booth that was all wood with no cushions. It was meant to look rustic, but what it really was, was uncomfortable.

The bodyguards refused to sit and eat with us, and instead stationed themselves strategically around the restaurant, one by the door, one by the bathroom and one seated in a near-by booth.

Chase sat next to me, and Max sat across from us. We decided on sharing a pizza with all of the fixings. Upon ordering, I remembered how much Max could eat, which was an absurd amount given his size, and added on an order of pasta with Alfredo sauce to share on the side.

We got our drinks, water for me and Chase, soda for Max, and then it was just the three of us.

“So what's with the bracelet?” Chase asked, looping a finger through the offending object on my wrist and lifting it up.

I shrugged, trying to not act as bothered as I actually was. “It's a sign of Abel's protection. Apparently all of the other wolves will recognize it, and know what it symbolizes.”

“And it symbolizes . . . ” Chase began. “Abel's ownership?”

“Like a dog collar!” Max laughed.

I blushed in spite of myself and pointed a finger in Max's face. “Hey buddy, I'm doing this so Abel will protect
all
of us. See these fancy bodyguards all around?” I asked, gesturing to the figures in black. “They're here, because I'm wearing
this
,” I said, putting my bracelet in his face.

Max raised his hands in mock defense. “Calm down,” he said, still laughing. “Please don't light me on fire. You know we all appreciate what you're doing.”

I smiled and finally laughed at myself a little. I crossed my arms and turned my nose up at Max. “Darn tootin',” I responded haughtily, then added, “Maybe I'll get you a bracelet too so you don't feel left out.”

“Oh pretty, pretty please?” Max asked jokingly bouncing in his seat like a little kid.

I smiled. “We’ll see. If you're a good boy, we'll get you a pink one.”

“My favorite!” Max exclaimed, just as the  waitress came and sat our food on the table along with three plates. After asking if we needed anything else, she walked away.

Chase shook his head. “I don't know what I'm going to do with the two of you,” he said playfully.

“You're going to eat with us, duh,” I responded tartly.

We all quickly filled our plates. Out of our complete group, the three of us are the ones with the biggest appetites. Ordering the pasta was definitely a good idea.

“So why is Lucy mad?” Max asked, mouth full of pizza.

There it was, no building up to it, no warning of intent. I didn't really know why Lucy was mad. I knew why she was bothered, and maybe a little uncomfortable, but all any of us had done was to protect her and everyone else.

I shook my head and swallowed my bite of pasta. “She's upset because of what happened with the vampires that ended up in our rugs. She's also upset that I would have put Maggie in the same place if I'd had any choice.”

Max stared at me for a heartbeat. “Why would that make her mad?”

Hallelujah, I wasn't the only one that didn't get it. “I'm not sure, really. I would love for someone to explain it to me.”

We both looked at Chase, and he shrugged. “They would have killed us. I don't see what the big problem is.”

I found myself wondering just what Lela's viewpoint was. For some reason, I thought she'd side with us. Lela was a lot of things, and one of them was a survivor. She did what she had to do. Maybe we could make teams and have a nice little debate on the topic.

“How's your shoulder?” I asked turning towards Chase, changing the subject.

He shrugged, then winced. “It would be fine if I didn't keep forgetting there was a chunk torn out of it.”

“It's healing okay though?” I prompted.

“In a few days I'll be right as rain,” he replied.

You gotta hand it to supernatural healing. Out of the three of us, Chase actually healed the slowest, even though he had more demon blood than I do.

Both of his parents were demons, so he got demon blood from both sides, whereas I only got it from my dad. The difference is that my “demon line” is more powerful, hence better healing. Max heals even faster than I do. Werewolves are freaky like that.

“That raises another question,” Max interjected. “What the heck did you do to that vampire Chase?”

Chase looked down, embarrassed. “You didn't tell them?” he asked me.

I shrugged. “When you told me, you made it seem like it was for my ears only.”

Chase smiled. “I appreciate that.”

Max was staring at us with his mouth open in mock annoyance. “When you two are done grinning at each other, could one of you please answer my question?”

I blushed and looked down. “My mom was a Naga,” Chase explained.

Max raised his eyebrows. “What the heck is a Naga?”

“A snake person,” I answered as if it was common knowledge. “like in Hindu mythology.”

“So . . . ” Max prompted.

“I'm poisonous,” Chase answered.

“
That
,” Max began, “is So. Cool. So what happens when you make out with chicks? Do they die?”

Chase laughed. “No Max, they do not die. My fangs are retractable.”

“So unlike our little Xoe here,” Max joked, “You probably won't accidentally kill your mate of choice.”

I frowned at him. “I'm yet to kill anyone by accident, thank you very much. You better just hope I don't start with you.”

“Speaking of our choice in mates,” Chase said to Max, “care to enlighten us about your brief stint as Allison's suitor?”

“Yes Max,” I added, fluttering my eyelashes at him. “Do tell.”

Max shrugged as a blush crept up his cheeks. “She's cute, and I like how she's all bossy, so I asked her out.”

“She might be cute,” Chase answered, “but that girl is scary.”

“Aw,” I cut in. “I thought
I
was the scariest girl around.”

“You're scary because you can light things on fire with your mind, and you're beautiful to boot,” Chase said casually. “Allison is scary because she has absolutely no doubt of her ability to get her way, no matter the situation.”

Max laughed at Chase's analysis. I was stuck on him calling me beautiful. Had it been a slip up? I didn't think so. He didn't seem at all embarrassed about saying it.

“I guess I like 'em confident,” Max replied. “Though it becomes a major personality flaw when the confident person wants to become a werewolf.”

We sobered up a bit at that.

“I'm not going to let her do it,” I stated.

“You may not be able to stop her for long,” Chase countered.

I frowned, thinking about Allison.

“Oh, shut up and call her beautiful again,” Max said loudly. “Her expression was a lot better then, than it is now.”